MEANING: noun:1. An unforeseen and unfortunate occurrence.2. A disagreement or dispute.

ETYMOLOGY: Originally contretemps was a fencing term meaning a pass or thrust made at a wrong moment. From French contre- (against) + (time). Earliest documented use: 1684._______________________________

MEANING: noun: A deceptive move, especially in fencing or boxing.verb tr., intr.: To make a deceptive movement.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French feinte, past participle of feindre (to feign), from Latin fingere (to shape). Ultimately from the Indo-European root dheigh- (to build or form), which also gave us fiction, effigy, paradise, dough, dairy, and lady (literally, a loaf kneader). Earliest documented use: around 1330.

NOTES: So many choices when it comes to speaking. You might prefer short-windedness and be breviloquent or you can be talkative (loquacious). You can talk in your sleep (somniloquy, which is a special kind of soliloquy). You can even speak through your tummy, literally speaking (ventriloquism).____________________________

BRAVILOQUENCE - speaking great praise

OREVILOQUENCE - ignoring Wilbur when discussing the Wright brothers' invention of the airplane

MR EVIL O'QUENCE - that unpleasant Irish guy from County Quence

BREXILOQUENCE - Sorry, I decline to get involved in a political discussion

NOTES: Earlier the word was applied to corporate bureaucracy. Over time the word has changed its meaning and now it refers to a system in which corporations control the government._________________________

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